Contents-lifter



H. 0. SMITH.

CONTENTS LIFTER FOR DlSPLAMCANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZI. I916. 1,310,19.

2 SHEETSSHEET '1.

amen C02 M'Znesses l3 73 7 Y THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cov, WASHINGTON. D. c.

Patented July 15, 1919.

H. C. SMITH.

CONTENTS LI FTER FOR DISPLAY CANS. APPLICATION FILED JULYZI. 191s.

Patented J uly 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

witnesses 'rliE COLUMBIA LANnunAPn C0. WASHINGTON, D. c. I

HENRY 0. SMITH, OFPHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvANIA.

CONTENTS-LIFTER FOR DIsPnAY-cAns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15,. 1919.

Application filed July 27, 1916. Serial No. 111,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,HENRY C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Contents- Lifters for Display-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in contents lifter for display cans, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which may be readily and quickly inserted in a display can or other receptacle, so that as the top layer or layers of the contents are removed, the lower layer or layers of contents may be lifted or raised to a point adjacent the upperor .open end of the receptacle, so that the receptacle will always have the appearance of being filled, thereby making the goods more salable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character comprising a collapsible framework adapted to be inserted in a receptacle,said framework carrying rollers over which runs a flexible lifting member for raising a supplementary bottom on which the contents of the receptacle rest. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide in combination with the collapsible frame, a supplementary bottom of peculiar construction which may be readily attached to the flexible lifting means.

\Vith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in theart to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which r I Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view of a display can or receptacle, showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2, is a similar view at right angles thereto.

Fig. Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a perspective view of the ,dis play can or receptacle and the key for operating the contents lifter.

3, is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 5, is an enlarged elevation of the ratchet arrangement showing its attaching plate and the relation thereof to one of the angle supports or uprights.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary sectional view of the winding roller or reel illustrating its construction and the arrangement of mounting the same; and

Fig. 7, is an end View of the supplementary bottom, showing one of the latching end of the receptacle is mounted a suitable top 5 preferably detachable and having a hinged cover 6 provided with an opening 7 across which is disposed a pane of glass 8, so that the contents of the receptacle may be readily seen by a probable purchaser. Within the corners of the receptacle are mounted four uprights or supports 9, 10,

'11 and 12, preferably in the form of angle irons or members as shown, and the lower ends of these supports are adapted to rest upon the bottom of the receptacle with their upper ends underlying the roll flanges 1. The lower ends of all of the uprights or supports and the upper ends of all of said supports except the one designated by the numeral 10 are provided with integral right angled projections 13, and these projections are provided with integral right angled extensions, 14, said projections and extensions being formedby producing one wall of the supports of greater length than desired in the finished product, and then bending this additional material at right angles to the wall of the support and then again at right angles parallel with the wall of the support, but spaced therefrom as plainly shown in Fig. 2, so that said extensions form bearings for thediflerent rollers as will be hereinafter described.

To the upper end of one of the walls of the support or upright 10 is secured the right angled flange 15 of the plate 16 by means of suitable attaching member 17 such as rivets. The metal of the lower free corner of the plate 16 is partially cut out and bent inward to form a. spring fastening leg 18, the same having a slot 19 therein for the reception of one end of the spring 20 which underlies the free end or handle portion of the dog 21, said dog being pivoted as at 22 to the plate 16 and having a nose 23 for engagement with the ratchet 24, said ratchet being formed from one end of the winding roller.or reel 25 by cutting out portions 26 and leaving longitudinal ribs 27 which become the teeth of the ratchet.

The end of the winding roller or reel 25 having the ratchet formed therefrom is journaled in the plate 16 by passing the end thereof through said plate of approximately the same size the diameter of the reel, so that the ratchet portion lies between said plate and one of the walls of the support carrying said plate, while the other end of said reel passes through a hole 28 of larger diameter than said reel formed. in the extension 14 of the support 12. This end of the reel 25 is provided with a key slot 29 and over said end is forced a sleeve or bushing 30 which partially closes the key slot 29 and fills the hole 28 thereby acting as a bearing for the reel 25, where it is journaled in the extension 14.

1n the wall of the support 12 opposite and parallel with the extension 14 is formed another opening or hole 31 for the passage of the key 32 to the key slot and said hole 31 is of the same diameter as the reel 25 and alines with the hole 3 in one of the side walls of the receptacle.

When the reel 25 is mounted in position and the sleeve or bushing 30 driven thereon, said reel will be prevented from becoming accidentally disengaged from its supports or uprights because of the engagement of one of said sleeves or bushings with the inner face of one of the walls of the upright or support 1'2. The two uprights or supports 10 and 12 in which the ends of the reel :25 are mounted, are permanently fastened together by means of stay rods 33 and form what may be termed one of the side members of the device, the other side member being formed by the other pair of sup-. ports and uprights 9 and 11, similarly secured together by stay-rods 33.

From this it will be seen that the angle supports or uprights which are mounted in the corners of the receptacle are arranged in pairs to produce the two side members of the collapsible frame.

In the extensions 12 at the lower ends of the uprights or supports 10 and 12 are journaled the ends of the guide roller 34, and in the extensions 14 at both the lower and upper ends of the supports 9 and 11 are journaled the ends of the guide rollers 35 and 36, so that there are two guide rollers arranged at the bottom of the receptacle, and one guide roller and reel arranged at the top of the receptacle. To the uprights of one of the side members of the frame are pivoted the swinging latches 37 as at 38, and

'frame away from each other and against the side walls of the receptacle.

41 denotes a flexible lifting member or element here represented as a sheet of paper, but which may be cord or any other suitable material. This lifting member runs over the guide roller 36 and one strand thereof passes downward along one of the walls of the receptacle under the guide roller 35, then along the bottom of the receptacle, under the uide roller 34, and has its end inserted in a longitudinal slot in the reel or wind ing roller 25, said slot being of any desired length. The other strand of the lifting member passes downward from the guide roller 36 approximately parallel to the other strand of said lifting member, then over to the other side of the receptacle and up to the reel 25, where the other end is also inserted in the slot 42 in the reel, which can then be revolved for taking up the last de scribed strand of the lifting member, and thereby raise the supplementary bottom 43, which is mounted on this portion of the lifting member.

The supplementary bottom is preferably: formed of a number of strands of wire coiled or otherwise fastened together to form two parallel side members 44 and 45, two parallel end members 46 and 47, a pairof locking bars 48 and 49, each running parallel with one of the end members and spaced a short distance therefrom and diagonal braces 50. The ends of the side member 44 are provided with latching hooks 51 opening downward, which are adapted to be engagec by latching hooks 52 formed with the free ends of the locking bars 48 and 49, the last named hooks opening upward as may be readily seen in Fig. 7.

To place the supplementary bottom 43 upon the strip of paper or lifting member 41, the hooks 52 of the locking bars 48 and 49 are disengaged from the hooks 51, at which time, said locking bars may be raised as shown in Fig. 7 and the supplementary bottom placed on a strip of paper by causing said paper to register with the space between the end members 46 and 47, and the locking bars 48 and 49, as will be readily understood by referring to Fig. 7 after which the hooks 52 of the locking bars are caused to engage the hooks 51, so that the strip of paper then overlies themajor portion of the supplementary bottom, but passes downward through the slots between the end members 46' and 47, and the locking bars 48 and 49 and then under said locking bars as plainly shown in Fig.1. l

In practice a strip of paper 53 is placedin the receptacle so that it covers the bottom and two opposite sides, thenthe strip ofp apers tl is placed inthe receptacle sothatit overlies the portion of the other strip of'p'apers upon the bottomof the receptacle and covers the twoother sides of said receptacle with the ends lying outside of the receptacle, one of said ends beingof sulficientlength to again cover the bottom and two sides of the receptacle. The side members of the frame are then placed in the receptacle with the angle uprights or supports inthe corners, so

that the guide rollers 34:, '35 and 36 and the reel or winding roll 25 lie transversely of the strip of paper 41, j

Then these side members of the frame are in position, the swinging latches 37 arethen moved to engagethe keepers 39, so as to'lock the frame inposition inthe receptacle and prevent it from collapsing and since said side members are forced against the side walls of the receptacle with the upper ends of the supports or "uprights lying underneath the rolled flange 4, the frame cannot be withdrawn from the receptacle.

The supplementarybottom is then placed upon the longer protruding end of the strip of paper 41 in an upsidedown position, after which it is turned upright by folding the paper over the guide roller 36 and inserting said supplementaryhottom in the receptacle, said supplementary bottom is then forced downward andcaused to slide along the strip of paperuntil it reaches the bottom of the receptacle. Then llooth 'ends of the strip of paper 41 are inserted in the longitudinal slot 42 in the reel 25 and said reel revolved by means of the key 32 until the lifting member 4:1is wound upon thereel 25, any retrogrademovementof the (reel 25 being prevented by means of the ratchet and the dog 21. Y H l The contents of the receptacle such as cakes or crackers are then placedgin said receptacle, so that they rest "upon the portion of the strip of pal-per 41"covering the supple mentary bottom 43, and when the'receptacle is full the ends of the strip of paper 53 are folded over the top and the shipping lid placed upon therecepta cle.

When the goods are to befdisplayed, the shippinglid is removed andthe displ'ay top or cover 5"placed on the receptacle, so that the contents of the canimaybe readily'seen. As the upper layers of the contents of the can are removed or sold, the reel 25 is re- Volved iby means of the key 32 which will wind the two ends of the strip of paper 41 therein and cause the supplementary bottom 43 to be raised or lifted as will' loe readily understood, thereby raising the contents of the receptacle to a point in close proximityto the displaycover or top, sothat the receptacle will always have the appearance of being full or almost full.

When the receptacle is entirely empty it may be returned to the factory, the frame knocked down and removed from the receptacle,-'after which the stripsof paper may be withdrawn, that=portion of the strip of paper 41 which is wound upon the reel 25 being removed by pressing down 11113011 the handle portion of the dog '21 against the act-ionofthe spring 20, so that the nose of said dog is disengaged from the ratchet to permit the rotation of the reel 25.

By actual experience it has been found that after'a portion of the contents of a display can have been sold, it is very diflicult to dispose of the balance of the contents, since the probable purchaser considers that the remainingcontents arestale, and then again because the remaining contents are so low in the display can, it is very diflicult for a possible purchaser to see the contents and unless the attention of a probable purchaser canhe'attracted, the goods are not sold sufliciently fast.

'By the use'of my'improv'ement these disadvantages are entirely overcome and greater sales 'are made. Where the receptaclein which the device is used is very deep, the-goods are always within easy reach of the sales person, thus making it much easier to handle the goods.

Of course I'donot wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as here shown, as these may be varied within the limits ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

l Having thus fully descri-bedmy invention, what claimas new'and useful, is-

1. In a device of the character stated a frame comprising two side members, each side memberconsisting of two angled u-prights or supports, stay-rods connecting the twouprights or supports, of each side member, integral projections formed with the lower ends of all of'said uprights, extensions formed with said projections and extending at right an'gles to said projections, parallel with the supports, similar projections and extensions formed with the upper ends of threeof said supports, a plate secured to the uppere'nd "of the remaining support, a reel journaled in'said plate and one of the extensions, guide rollers journaled in the other extensions, latches for fastening the side memhers within a receptacle, a strip of paper passing over the guiderollers with its ends attached to the reel, and a segmental bottom movably mounted upon said strip of paper, whereby said bottom may be raised 1 rights or supports, stay-rods connecting the two uprights or supports, of each side member, integral projections formed with the lower ends of all of said uprights, extensions formed with said projections and extending at right angles to said projections, parallel with the supports, similar projections and extensions formed with the upper ends of three of said supports, a plate secured to the upper end of the remaining support, a reel journaled in said plate and one of th extensions, guide rollers journaled in the other extensions, latches for fastening the side members within a receptacle, a strlp of paper passing over the guide rollers with its ends attached to the reel, a segmental bottom movably mounted upon said strip of pi er, whereby said bottom may be raised w 1en the paper is wound upon the reel, a ratchet formed from the end of the reel journaled in the plate, and a spring actuated dog engaging said ratchet to prevent retrograde movement of the reel.

3. In a device of the character stated a frame comprising two side members, each side member consisting of two angled uprights or supports, stay-rods connecting the two uprights or supports of each side member, integral projections formed with the lower ends of all of said uprights, extensions formed with said projections and extending at right angles to said projections, parallel with the supports, similar projections and extensions formed with the upper ends of three of said supports, a plate secured to the upper end of three of said supports, a plate secured to the upper end of the remaining support, a reel journaled in said plate and one of the extensions, guide rollers journaled in the other extensions, latches for fastening the side members within a receptacle, a strip of paper passing over the guide rollers with its ends attached to the reel, a segmental bottom movably mounted upon said strip of paper, whereby said bottom may be ralsed when the paper is wound upon the reel, a ratchet formed from the end of the reel journaled in the plate, a leg-formed from the plate projecting at right angles thereto, said leg having a slot therein a dog pivoted to said plate, a spring, one end thereof registering with the slot in the leg, and the other end engaging the handle portion of the dog to force the nose thereof into engagement with the ratchet for preventing accidental retrograde 4:. In a contents lifter for display receptacles the combination of a receptacle open at the upper end and provided with an inturned flange along its upper edge, one of the walls of said receptacle having a hole therein, four angle supports or uprights adapted to rest upon the bottom of the receptacle underlying the flange, one of said supports having a hole in one of its walls adjacent its upper end, a plate secured to one of the walls of another support at the upper end thereof, a le produced from one of the corners of sai plate arranged at right angles to the body of said plate and having a slot therein, all the other ends of the supports having right angled projections, said projections having right angled extensions lying parallel to one of the walls of said angled supports, stay-rods for fastening said supports together in pairs, guide rollers journaled in the extensions, of each pair of joined supports, a reel journaled in the plate and the extension of the diametrically opposite support, said reel having a. longitudinal slot therein midway its length, and a key slot at one end, a bushing mounted upon the end of the reel in which the key slot is formed, said bushing resting in the extension and contactin with the inner face of one of the walls of t e support carrying said extension, said wall of the support having a hole therein adapted to register with the hole in the wall of the receptacle, where by a key may be inserted in the key slot of the reel, a ratchet formed from the opposite end of the reel, a dog pivoted to the plate and adapted to engage said ratchet, a spring one end of which is mounted in the slot in the leg formed with said plate, the other end engaging the handle end of the dog for normally forcing the nose thereof into engagement with the ratchet, a sheet of paper covering two sides and the bottom of the receptacle, another sheet of paper passing over the upper guide roller opposite the reel, said paper being folded upon itself so as to provide two thiclmesses covering the two op-' posite sides and the bottom of the receptacle with its end passing through the slot in the reel for attaching said ends to said reel, one of the thicknesses of said paper passing under the other, two guide rolls, and a segmental bottom provided with latching bars adapted to be placed upon the other thickness of the last named strip of paper, whereby said bottom is movable on said strip of paper, and so that said strip of paper overlies the major portion of said bottom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

- HENRY C. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

